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Election strike cripples Indian Kashmir |
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SRINAGAR, INDIA, September 07 (AFP) - A one-day strike called by Muslim separatists to denounce planned elections closed shops, schools and businesses across Indian Kashmir on Monday and sparked fresh clashes. Government offices were also closed and public and private vehicles stayed off the road in the latest in a string of shutdowns and demonstrations called by separatists in the Muslim-majority state. Kashmiri separatists oppose Indian-held elections, arguing they strengthen New Delhi`s hold over the region. They have boycotted all elections held in the state since 1989, when an insurgency broke out against India`s rule. "The strike is to denounce the holding of a meeting by India`s Election Commission in New Delhi," strike organisers said in a statement. The commission met on Monday to assess when the elections could be held in Kashmir. The revolt-hit region has been ruled directly by New Delhi since July 10 when the local government collapsed over a Hindu land row that triggered large pro-independence demonstrations. Elections are due before January 10. Ten people were hurt on Monday in clashes in Srinagar between police and protesters opposing the elections and protesting against Saturday`s killing of a man by police, doctors and police said
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Indian Kashmiri Muslims throw stones towards Indian police during a strike in Srinagar on September 8. A one-day strike called by Muslim separatists to denounce planned elections closed shops, schools and businesses across Indian Kashmir on Monday and sparked fresh clashes. |
Four of the injured were policemen. Police said they used teargas and fired shots in the air to disperse hundreds of young Kashmiris chanting "no elections, we want freedom." The man was killed on Saturday when police fired rubber bullets and teargas to disperse stone-throwing anti-India demonstrators. Kashmir`s hardline separatist Syed Ali Geelani warned India against holding the state elections. "It will add fuel to the fire," Geelani said in a statement. "We want nothing short of freedom." Since June at least 40 Muslims and three Hindus have died in police shootings in the Kashmir valley and the mainly Hindu area of Jammu, further to the south, as authorities struggled to quell the protests. In the past, Islamic rebels have threatened to kill voters if they cast ballots in polls. During last statewide elections in 2002, nearly 850 people were killed. Many victims were party workers and around 50 were politicians. Meanwhile, Indian troops Monday shot dead three Muslim militants in the frontier strict of Kupwara, bordering Pakistan-administered Kashmir, a police statement said
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